I Have Feelings, Too: Understanding Dog Communication
Written by Anissa Svoboda
Illustrated by Aneta Knoppova
A wonderful teaching tool for children. It explains how dogs communicate with their bodies, unlike humans, who generally communicate with spoken words.
Readers learn that different breeds of dogs use different parts of their bodies to express different emotions. I enjoyed the parent paws section, which provides an easy-to-understand teaching point. Children learn empathy and respect for our four-legged friends, and how to better communicate with them.
The comprehension questions are useful for parents and teachers to review and reinforce the lessons taught.
I would highly recommend this book to parents and teachers of children ages three through ten.
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A Tall Tale About Dachshunds in Costumes: How MORE Dogs Came to Be (Tall Tales Book 4)
Written by Kizzie Jones
Illustrated by Scott Ward
A very creative rhyming picture book! It tells the tale of a young girl and her beloved Daschunds.
One day, while playing on the beach, the dogs decide to play dress-up using the vegetation they find around them. Their mistress is distressed that changing their outside appearance might change their personalities. Will they decide to remain this way?
The author uses the tale to explain the many different types of dogs, their physical characteristics, and how they were named. She provides a glossary of each dog type and the vegetation they associate with.
Children who love dogs will enjoy the humorous tale and the wealth of information about each species. An entertaining read for any age.
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Observing natural leadership qualities in children early can help parents, teachers, and caregivers encourage and develop those important life skills.
If you want to identify and support your child’s leadership qualities, here are some signs to consider:
Talkative
Does it sometimes drive you crazy that your child talks so much? Actually, being talkative may be a sign of things to come. A chatty nature indicates a child with excellent verbal skills, which are important for good leaders. Did your child talk early and proficiently? This may be a sign that he or she will be a good leader.
Treats Others with Respect
If you notice that your child seems to end up in responsible positions – team captain, for instance – and you know he didn’t get that position because of “muscling” his way to the top or bullying others, then this may be a sign of leadership ability. Notice if your child seems to have others “gravitate” toward her and wish to emulate her. Take note as to whether or not this is due to respectful treatment. If it is, you may have a strong leader on your hands.
Sees Both Sides
Some kids exhibit an ability to understand both sides of an issue, rather than being overly committed to one point of view. These children often act as peacekeepers who help their peers find an agreeable middle ground.
In the Know
Does your child always know what’s going on? Is he or she always aware of the latest happening at school or in the family? This is not the same as being a gossip (that’s not a good leadership quality), but it does mean that he or she is paying attention and interested in what’s going on with others.
Inquisitive
A good leader is not afraid to ask questions, but he/she is not afraid to go looking for answers on his own, either. Too much questioning may indicate self-doubt – your child is always trying to make sure about things – but healthy questions that spring from a true desire to know more about something may be a sign of leadership ability.
India – The Land of Festivals: A Monthly Guidebook to Diverse Celebrations (Indian Festival Series 1)
Written by Anuja Mohla
Illustrated by Gowthami Maruthapandiyan
This book contains a wealth of information with colorful illustrations about the diversity of life in India. The author covers each of the six major religions practiced in India. This book is organized by month.
Many of these celebrations, however, are based on the lunar calendar. Each page describes which religion is celebrated in that month and discusses the foods, rituals, customs, and types of celebrations. The reader learns native vocabulary and the significance associated with each.
This book is an excellent choice for teachers who want to explain Indian customs and culture and share multicultural traditions. Indian families can use it as a springboard to explain the rich culture of their homeland.
As a teacher, I appreciated the section at the end of the book that includes matching and recalling information about the festivals.
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Mouse Visits Everglades National Park (Mouse Traveler)
Written by Tricia Gardella
Illustrated by Ginger Nielson
A delightful adventure for primary-grade readers. A mouse gives us a guided tour of Everglades National Park. This intrepid traveler is delighted to find his bird friend at the park.
The bird volunteers to guide his friend. First, they visit many of the birds that inhabit the swamp. Readers learn about egrets and spoonbills. But the mouse wants to see alligators and crocodiles, so he moves on to the mangrove swamp.
Tired from his daylong adventure, the mouse uses his magic acorn to get home.
At the end of the tale, the author includes facts about the Everglades and questions to measure comprehension.
A fun book that contains an adventure story with knowledge about the Everglades.
Recommended to teachers and parents of elementary-age readers.
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This book introduces Kaboose, a Rocky Mountain Bear.
The approach is unique. First, it is a charming tale about how a community of black bears awaits the birth of a cub. The author relates a story that explores the history of the Canadian Rockies and life in the Arrow Valley, exploring its sights, sounds, smells, and connection to railroad history.
The illustrations are expressive and colorful, and the characters are charming.
Looks like a promising new series for readers ages six to ten.
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Quincy, a young quail, is a bit clumsy. He cannot seem to go very far without getting into trouble. His family is patient and kind. Together, they adventure through the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. All the while, a silent guardian is watching their progress.
The author includes a wealth of information about quail and the environment of the Sonoran Desert. At the end of the family adventure, she includes a piece about life in the desert and also a detailed glossary of vocabulary terms from the book.
The book contains a fun adventure, information about quail, and a resource about the animals and life in the region.
Highly recommended for primary-grade children who enjoy reading about animals, but also enjoy nonfiction.
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This is a beautifully written book that describes how nature reacts during a solar eclipse.
When this rare event occurs, the nocturnal and diurnal animals come together to celebrate the event. They raise their diverse voices in celebration. Through lovely illustrations and lyrical language, the reader is invited to partake of the beauty of this short moment in time.
The author uses alliteration and vocabulary that suit the magical mood. This book combines a sweet tale of nature with science to describe and present a vivid picture of the eclipse.
An excellent choice for teachers and parents to discuss a solar eclipse for children in elementary school.
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Mouse Visits Everglades National Park (Mouse Traveler)
Written by Tricia Gardella
Illustrated by Ginger Nielson
A delightful adventure for primary-grade readers. A mouse gives us a guided tour of Everglades National Park. This intrepid traveler is delighted to find his bird friend at the park.
The bird volunteers to guide his friend. First, they visit many of the birds that inhabit the swamp. Readers learn about egrets and spoonbills. But the mouse wants to see alligators and crocodiles, so he moves on to the mangrove swamp.
Tired from his daylong adventure, the mouse uses his magic acorn to get home.
At the end of the tale, the author includes facts about the Everglades and questions to measure comprehension.
A fun book that contains an adventure story with knowledge about the Everglades.
Recommended to teachers and parents of elementary-age readers.
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The Wonderful Animals of the Boise River (Into Justin’s World Book 2)
Written by Heather Lyn Davis
Illustrated by Corryn Webb
This book is interactive. From the outset, children learn that they will find and identify many animals that inhabit the Boise River.
Each picture layout features a color and a black-and-white illustration. Readers are encouraged to color the black-and-white illustration. For each animal, children gain a wealth of information. At the end of the book, readers have the opportunity to illustrate their favorite animal.
The book is a good choice for studying local geography and animal life. It is highly recommended for curious upper elementary students.
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July 5, 2026
bamauthor
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